During this time the capital at Memphis was founded. Papyrus was invented. Writing was used by the government. Many impressive artifacts have been found from this period.

2890 - 2686 BC
Wooden coffins and corpses wrapped in resin
2nd Dynasty
(2770 - 2650)
After much rivalry for the throne Hetepsekhemsy won. At this time the kings disagreed over which god, Horus and Seth, was in power. This was finally settled when Khasekhemwy became ruler. He took both titles. Disorder erupted during the end of this dynasty. There could have been a civil war.
3rd Dynasty
(2650-2575)

2686 - 2648 BC
Step Pyramid at Saqqara built by King Djoser

4th Dynasty
(2575-2467)
During this dynasty there was a great peace. The kings were able to put their energies in art. King Khufu's Great Pyramid of Giza was built. People prayed to the sun god Re. The first religious words were written on the walls of the royal tombs.

5th Dynasty
(2465-2323)
For the first time high officials came from people outside of the royal family. The pyramids begin to be smaller and less solid. However, the carvings in the temples were of great quality. Papyrus scrolls from this time have been discovered. They showed record keeping of goods.

2375 - 2345 BC
The Pyramid Texts describe Osiris

2420 - 2258 BC
Pepi I and Pepi II rule - government weakens

6th Dynasty
(2323-2152)
Many records of trading expeditions have been discovered from this period.

1956 - 1911 BC
Collection of letters from a farmer to his family written describing family and agricultural life

1956 - 1911 BC
Senusret I builds temple of Karnak at Thebes

12th Dynasty
(1937-1756)
Amenemhet moved the capital back to Memphis. Sesostris II reorganized Egypt into 4 regions (northern and southern halves of the Nile Valley and eastern and western Delta).

1877 - 1870 BC
Senusret II builds Faiyum irrigation scheme

13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, & 17th Dynasties
(1783-1539)
Few monuments from this period survived. Each king reigned for only a short time. Some of these kings were born commoners. The eastern Delta region broke away during this time.

1700 BC
Earliest evidence of diagnostic medicine

1650 BC
Capital moved to Thebes - Extensive building

1650 - 1580 BC
spells known as the Book of the Dead first appear

1560 BC
War between Thebes and Asiatic ruler

18th Dynasty
(1539-1295)
Ahmose finally beat the Hyksos and sent them out of Egypt. This dynasty had a number of strong rulers.
Thutmose I conquered parts of the Near East and Africa.
Hatshepsut and Thutmose made Egypt a super power.
Amenhotep II began an artistic revolution.
Akhenaton and Nefertiti began a new religion with one god.
Tutankhamen reigned.

19th Dynasty
(1295-1186)
Seti I restored many monuments. His temple at Abydos has some of the most superior carved wall relief. Many battles and treaties were written between Egypt and Asiatic powers.

1279 - 1213 BC
Ramses II begins building projects - including his mortuary temple The Ramesseum (on the West Bank near Luxor)

20th Dynasty
(1186-1069)
Setakht restored order to the country. Ramesses III was one of the greatest kings.

1186 - 1089 BC
Royal Tombs in the Valley of the Kings plundered

21st Dynasty
(1070-945)
The kings weakened, and Egypt was no longer a world power.
Civil war and foreign invaders tore Egypt apart.
The capital moved from Tanis to Libyan, to Nubia, to Thebes, to Sais, and then back to Nubia and Thebes.

1069 BC
Civil War

1069 - 1043 BC
Mummification techniques improved

984 BC
Osorkon the Elder becomes the first Libyan pharaoh

22nd Dynasty
(945-712)

23rd Dynasty
(828-725)

730 BC
Conquest of Egypt by Kush under Kashta and then Piankhy

24th Dynasty
(725-715)

25th Dynasty
(712-657)

The Nubians fell under the Assyrians invasion.
The Greeks helped re-establish order.
A renaissance in the arts of the 25th Dynasty showed a return to the Old Kingdom style.

510 - 497 BC
King Dauius completes the canal from the Nile to the Red Sea

28th Dynasty
(404 -399)
Amytravios retakes Egypt from Persia

29th Dynasty
(399-380)

30th Dynasty
(380-343)

343 - 342 BC
Artaxerxes I of Persia retakes Egypt

332 BC
Alexander the Great invades Egypt

331 BC
Alexandria is founded

323-30 BC
Ptolemaic Dynasty
Confusing time with many co-regencies.
Alexandria became the new capital. It was home to the greatest library of the ancient world.
Egypt was powerful until Cleopatra died. Egypt was then ruled by Rome.

300 BC
The Temple of Isis was built on the island of Philae in the Nile River.

Recent Posts

Sample Text

The ancient civilization in Egypt is one of the oldest human civilizations at all and it has even reached the stage of the State in the very early history of mankind,

so that this civilization is important to be studied not only in Egypt or the old world, but across the whole new and old world to understand humanity for its own sake in order to seek a clear vision for the future of humanity.